The Nakamura family built great wealth as owners of cargo-buying ships. The Nakamura House is a large mansion of a Kitamaebune shipowner, featuring a distinctive estate layout and a three-story guestroom wing. It has been open to the public since April 2024. Can you feel the history and romance of the Kitamaebune captains who endured and thrived on the majestic Sea of Japan?

Nikko Toshogu Shrine covered in fog on a rainy day ✩.*°

It is a dance Events that was Held in in Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Odawara Castle. Local dances called "Essahoi", hula dances, and various dancers and artists gathered. It was a masterpiece performance, with a sense of dynamism and beauty of gestures.

Notice of the Hibita District Exploration Tour "A Day Tracing Ancient Memories" For history lovers— This full-day tour begins with a formal visit to Sannomiya Hibita Shrine in Sagami Province and then takes you, with a cultural heritage specialist guide, on a relaxed journey through the district’s living "ancient memories," including the former shrine site, burial mounds, and Jomon-period archaeological sites. 🍱Generous tour perks included! Enjoy a special bento from Megumi Kitchen made with pesticide-free vegetables and fermented seasonings, plus a tasting of three local sake servings from Yoshikawa Brewery, letting you experience Hibita’s charms with all five senses. It’s sure to be an unforgettable day for nature, history, and sake enthusiasts. Date and time: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 9:00–14:00 (runs in light rain) Meeting place: Sannomiya Hibita Shrine precincts (1472 Sannomiya, Isehara) Participation fee: 4,000 yen (tax included; bento, three sake tastings, and insurance included) Capacity: 20 people (minimum 10 to run); advance reservation required (deadline: October 27) For application details and more information, please check the Tourism Association website. https://isehara-kanko.com/hibita_tour2025/... We look forward to your participation!

Itadori-juku in Imajo offers a charming retro atmosphere! This site contains the remains of a checkpoint that once marked the entrance to the Hokkokukaido. By establishing the checkpoint, it served an important role in regulating travelers on the road.✨ Nearby stand four traditional houses with thatched roofs built in the kogashira style, and they are certified under Fukui Prefecture’s Traditional House Recognition System. If you’re curious, visit and you might enjoy a nostalgic atmosphere.

Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour Announcement The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9 to Monday, October 13 (national holiday), hosted at six kilns in Reihoku and Amakusa City 😊 During the event, new works will be exhibited and sold, and items will be offered at discounted prices. Take this chance to visit, enjoy Amakusa Ceramics, and soak in the Amakusa West Coast scenery 🌊🌅♪ The Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association account will introduce participating kilns one by one in the coming days. We will share photos 📸 of preparations for the kiln tour and ask about the new works 📝. Look forward to it! ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ The 36th Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour Period: Thursday, October 9 – Monday, October 13 (national holiday) 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Venues: Reihoku: Uchida Sarayama Pottery, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshū Kiln Amakusa City: Takahama Ware Juhogama, Amakusa Karatsu Juro Kiln (Goyama Kame Kiln) 🍁Two stamp rallies will run simultaneously! ※A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points 📱 ※A stamp rally where you can win products from your chosen kilns (entry forms are available at each kiln 📃) Contact: Amakusa Pottery Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

"Overseas and domestic tour and hotel bookings with NEWT" has featured Ichibutsu Nijūgo Bosatsu. "Overseas and domestic tour and hotel bookings with NEWT" introduced Kokushōji's Ichibutsu Nijūgo Bosatsu ✨ 👉 For details, please see our website and the news section! It is listed among the 12 recommended spots for Kumamoto sightseeing and is presented alongside other regional attractions 👀 Please stop by when you visit Kumamoto♪

Famous castle of the South Seas National Treasure Kochi Castle

Matsuyama and Autumn Higher Castle Keep

Ehime Dogo Unmanned lighting at different times

The Ushikura Shrine Annual Grand Festival, which is known as one of the three major Festival in Yamanashi Prefecture, will be Held in for three days from today. This festival, which gives thanks to the five gods of agriculture that bring the fruits of autumn, has attracted the deep faith of local residents and has been passed down since ancient times. The In the town Mikoshi Watari, which is held on the 6th when the main shopping street of National Route 20 is closed to traffic, is a sight to see. Held in: 19:30-21:30 Date: 3 days from September 6 (Sat) to September 8 (Mon) in Reiwa 7) (2025) 6th Day 1: Mikoshi Procession and Stalls (partial) 7th Day 2: Festival float procession, Stalls, 8th Day 3: Performances and Stalls

Third Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk: Tourism Route Workshop to Be Held! We will hold the third Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk tourism route creation workshop. On Thursday, September 25, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, we will host the third Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk tourism route creation workshop. This session will focus more on “literature,” uncovering stories while weaving in the history of Reihoku to create a fun guide manual. It’s perfectly fine to join for the first time, so anyone interested in literature, history, tour guiding, or community development is encouraged to participate. Date and Time: Thursday, September 25, 2:00 PM–4:00 PM Venue: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, 2nd floor (4535-1 Kozufukae, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture) 👉Apply via the notice section on the official Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association website! Application Deadline: Monday, September 22 Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association), Ogata ☎0969-31-1136 This workshop is organized under the FY2025 Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Grant program.

First trip with my best friend*⋆︎ ✈ In the summer of my second year of high school, I traveled 🎶 with enthusiasm because I was a student taking the entrance exam next year After the sun went down, I went to Light up the former palace Nijo Castle! It's too ✨️ beautiful everywhere you look, especially the Garden! It was ♡ a night full of moments when I thought, "I'm glad I was born in Japan."

Limited Time: The Flavor and Beauty Crafted by Artisans — Hand-Pressed Kelp Exhibition, Demonstration, and Sale✨ At Sakai Denshōkan, we will hold a special exhibition on hand-pressed kelp processing with live demonstrations by artisans and a limited-time sale!👏 Hand-pressed kelp is made by skilled artisans who carefully strain each sheet using a traditional technique. The result is a delicate texture, rich umami, and an attractive appearance.🤤 We will offer kelp sold by weight and samples of freshly shaved kelp, so please take this chance to visit!🙌 Exhibition: Tuesday, September 9 — Monday, September 15, 10:00–18:00 Demonstration & Sale: Saturday, September 13, 13:30–15:00 Details: Live demonstration of hand-pressed kelp processing Tasting of freshly shaved kelp Sale of hand-pressed kelp Venue: 📍Sakai Denshōkan (@sakaidensan), 2nd floor, TAKUMI EXHIBITION 🔍 For more information, search “Sakai Denshōkan hand-pressed kelp”!

🍡 A model course for enjoying cool summer sweets in Sakai — Central Area 🌞 Cool treats you crave in summer♪ While sightseeing around the Moat Area, enjoy refreshing, delicious sweets to get through the summer♪ Here is a short model course featuring dessert shops and sightseeing spots in the Moat Area’s central zone✨ Course 2 A route to learn the history of the Moat Area and enjoy cool sweets (📍Central Area) 1. Honganji Sakai Betsuin ⇩ 2. Myokokuji Temple ⇩ 3. Cool sweets shop ⇩ 4. Ako Shrine • Rosier (@rosier_fruits — parfait) • Tenjinmochi (@tenjinmochi — smooth shiratama shiruko mochi) • Maruichi Confectionery (@maruichikashiho — anmitsu) • SAKAINOMA cafe Kuma (@sakainoma — float) • Cafe Lapin (kakigori) 🔍 For more details, search “Sakai’s Cool Summer Sweets Feature — Moat Area” ✳️

🍧 A Model Route for Enjoying Sakai’s Chilly Summer Sweets — Southern Moat Area 🌞 Cool sweets you crave in summer♪ Enjoy sightseeing in the moat area, savor refreshing and delicious treats, and beat the summer heat♪ Here is a short model route that combines dessert shops and sightseeing spots (Southern Moat Area)✨ Course 2 A route to learn the history of the moat area and enjoy chilled sweets (📍Central Area) 1. Sakai Risho no Mori ⇩ 2. Site of Sen no Rikyu’s Residence ⇩ 3. Chilled Sweets Shop ⇩ 4. Nanshuji Temple ・Kanbukuro (Ice Kurumi-mochi) ・BLUE KETTLE ( @bluekettle.sakai gelato) 🔍 For details, search “Sakai’s Chilly Summer Sweets Feature — Moat Area” ✳️

✳️ A model route to enjoy chilly summer sweets in Sakai — Northern Area — Chilly sweets you crave in summer♪🍨 While enjoying sightseeing in the moated area, savor refreshing, delicious sweets to get through the summer♪ This time, we introduce a short model route to enjoy sweet shops and sightseeing spots (Moat North Area)🍧 ………***………***………***……… Course 1 The ironworking history and chilled-sweets course (📍Northern Area) 1. Sakai Koko Knife Gallery ⇩ 2. Sakai Densho-kan ⇩ 3. Chilled sweets shop ⇩ 4. Teppō Kaji Residence ✤ Tsuboichi Seicha Main Store (shaved ice) ✤ Sorori (Umeju) ✤ D..labo (acai bowl) ✤ Asahido Confectionery (mizu manju) 🔍 For details, search “Sakai’s Chilly Summer Sweets Feature — Moated Area” ✳️

Special Exhibition 🎨 "Mucha and Yumeji: STYLE of BEAUTY" ✨ 📅 Saturday, August 23 – Sunday, November 30 ⏰ 9:30 AM–5:15 PM (Last admission 4:30 PM) 📍 Sakai Alphonse Mucha Museum (Sakai City Cultural Center) 1. An unprecedented joint exhibition of "Mucha and Yumeji"! Realized with the special cooperation of the Yumeji Art Museum, which boasts one of the finest collections of Yumeji’s original paintings, this exhibition offers an unprecedentedly large-scale presentation of the two artists together. 2. The beauty of gesture: "Yumeji-style beauties" and the beauty of pose: "Mucha style" With the keywords "the beauty of everyday gestures" and "the beauty of ideal poses," the exhibition compares the two artists’ female images. Seeing their works side by side in the same space brings each artist’s characteristics into sharp relief. 3. Gorgeous! Cute! The overflowing designs of both artists! This section introduces the two artists’ wide-ranging design work, highlighting their roles as pioneers of graphic design.

💡Special Exhibition “The Architecture of the Teppō Blacksmith Residence — Secrets Above and Below Ground” now on display At the Teppō Blacksmith Residence (Inoue Sekuemon Machiya History Museum), we are holding the 4th special exhibition “The Architecture of the Teppō Blacksmith Residence — Secrets Above and Below Ground”!🏠 The Teppō Blacksmith Residence, the only surviving combined workshop and dwelling of an Edo-period teppō blacksmith in the country, has its entire site designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Sakai City. Opened as the Machiya History Museum in March 2024 (Reiwa 6), this is our first special exhibition focused on “buildings.” We display architectural materials such as illustrated maps showing changes to the site and structures, and present the results of preservation and repair work and archaeological investigations✨ 📅Dates: Wednesday, July 23 – Monday, November 24 (closed Monday) 📍Venue: Teppō Blacksmith Residence 🕰Hours: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (last admission 4:30 PM) 💰Admission: 500 yen

🎣 The Sakai Tourism Concierge took part in the Sakai Big Fish Night Market! 🎆 On Saturday, July 26th, the Sakai Tourism Concierge participated in the Sakai Big Fish Night Market! Thank you for coming. ✨ At the Sakai Big Fish Night Market, we held a fish auction 🐟 and promoted Sakai on stage 🎵, closing the event to great acclaim! We look forward to seeing you at the Sakai Festival in October. ✨

The 2nd “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Stroll” sightseeing route creation workshop was held🎊 Last week on August 21, the second workshop was held in Reihoku to develop a sightseeing walking route so visitors can enjoy the town’s literary spots and heritage as new tourism resources✨ Held with the aim of revitalizing tourism “together with local people,” the second session proved a rich time in which the more we dug, the more literary treasures of Reihoku we uncovered👏 In particular, participants were treated to a carefully delivered, realistic walking-tour-style guided explanation by Mr. Kanzaki, the president of the Guides Association, who projected images as he spoke. This gave everyone a renewed understanding of the local area and created a lively atmosphere♪ The next workshop, the third session, is scheduled for Thursday, September 25 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM‼ We plan an enjoyable workshop full of activities that delve more deeply into literature and the history of Reihoku, so please join us👀 *We will open recruitment for participants on our website in early September.* We are also collecting ideas and insider information from those who cannot attend the workshops to help shape the walking route. Please take part in our survey via the announcements section on our website! Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association), Ogata ☎ 0969-31-1136 *This workshop is being held as part of the Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Subsidy Project for fiscal year Reiwa 7.*

"Akariyanse" Around October, it takes place centered on Ukon House, the Kitamaebune Shipowners' Residence. The event lights up the area around Ukon House with LED candles and andon lanterns. The fantastic lights decorate Kono Kitamaebune Shipowners' Street, letting visitors enjoy an atmosphere different from usual.

I can post about one of Nagano Prefecture’s top fireworks festivals again this year thanks to the businesses that sponsored the event, the fireworks artists, everyone who bought tickets, and the local people of the Suwa region! Thank you so much!! The event takes place in Suwa City every year on August 15. With help from the organizing committee, we received fireworks photos from the Suwa Lake Festival Fireworks over the Lake.🎆 Because Lake Suwa sits in a basin surrounded by mountains, the echoes and shockwaves are incredible! It’s an intensity you absolutely can’t experience anywhere else!!! If you’ve never been or have been curious, please come visit Lake Suwa next year✨ We look forward to seeing you!!! https://suwako-hanabi.com//

Summer Memories of Bungo-Ono, Oita Prefecture On August 14, the Kodai Torch Fire Festival took place in Ogata Town, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture. At 7:30 p.m., torches were lit all at once, and the lights of the torches prepared by the local community rose up in a dreamlike display across the area around Harajiri Falls and the Ogata rice fields. Flame sculptures made from torches that depict torii gates and stone bridges are also beautiful. Upstream from Harajiri Falls stands the stone Harajiri Bridge, and the sight of torches glowing on the stone bridge is very beautiful. ■■■ Access to central Bungoono City ■■■ About a 3-hour drive from JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture About a 2-hour drive from JR Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto Prefecture About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Beppu Station in Oita Prefecture About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Yufuin Station in Oita Prefecture ■■■■■■■■■■■■ Tourism and recommended spots in Kyushu, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture ■■■■■■■■■■■■

We will take a guided tour of some of the Annual Grand Festivals scheduled for 25/10/14 (Tue), 15 (Water), and 16 (Thu) at Ishioka Shrine and Isono Shrine. Walk through the autumn Halle day with a knowledgeable guide. Please enjoy the splendid Cypress trees sculptures of Mizuju, flowers, birds, wind and moon, human figures, gold and silver thread sewing, and a gorgeous festival rituals with many lanterns flickering in the early morning. Tour guide Hajime Kono [Request for participation] ・ Application for those who can walk the number of km displayed on each tour menu (Walk through Traditional Japanese straw raincoat for the whole process) ・Please check the flyer for the number of applicants and groups. ・ This itinerary assumes those who plan to stay at Hotels near JR Iyo Saijo Station. 【Menu and Fee】 Please check from the image. Combinable. Contact us for details. Time is indicative. Those who make a reservation will be mailed a separate travel condition form and application form. 【Reservations and Inquiries】 Saijo City Tourism and Products Association Ehime Prefectural Governor Registered Travel Agency No. 3-201　 Person in charge: Tamai, Fujita 〒793-0030　 798-1 Omachi, Saijo-shi, Ehime TEL:0897-56-2605　 FAX:0897-47-3733

Kitamaebune Shipowners’ Street runs along the Shiokaze Line. Here stands the Ukon House, a Kitamaebune shipowner’s residence designated as a Japan Heritage site. The building I’m introducing this time is the Western-style house a few steps up from the Ukon House. What view opens up from the second-floor veranda? That’s a surprise to enjoy when you visit. . When you come to the Ukon House, be sure to climb up to the Western-style house on Kitamaebune Shipowners’ Street for a different experience—the unique scenery you can only see here awaits you. https://www.minamiechizen.com/en/feature/64468/...

The Echizen-Wakasa Castle Festival 2025 will be held again this year on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26, 2025! The venues are in Obama City, home to Obama Castle and Goseyama Castle. This is the largest castle-related event in Fukui Prefecture, bringing together castle enthusiasts and organizations from inside and outside the prefecture. From Mihama Town, the Sakaki-Kunikiyo Castle exhibit will be on display! In addition, four routes are offered as coordinated tours under the “Historical Exploration Bus Tours” program. These will be full days of conversation with local curators, so please be sure to apply. Echizen-Wakasa Castle Festival 2025 Date Saturday, October 25 to Sunday, October 26, 2025 Venue ・JA Fukui Prefecture, Obama Branch └ Booths by castle organizations and sales of limited goods such as castle stamps (goshuin) ・Obama City Comprehensive Welfare Center (Sun Sun Home Obama) └ Keynote lectures and talk sessions ・Wakasa History Museum, Fukui Prefectural Museum └ Hands-on booths and panel exhibits For details, please see the linked page. https://fukushiro.com/etizenwakasa_oshirofes2025/...

#012 Tsunocho is home to about fifty restaurants and confectioneries. This is the third installment in our gourmet series! Here we introduce a long-established Japanese and Western confectionery shop loved both inside and outside the town. ~Founded in 1950, a taste that recalls Tsunocho~ Kashiho Kikuya Kikuya is a long-standing Japanese and Western confectionery shop founded in 1950 by the family of my childhood friend. It continues to be loved by both local residents and visitors from outside the town. Kikuya makes many well-known sweets. First is the wagashi called “Ichinomiya,” which people associate with Kikuya. The name comes from the town’s representative sightseeing spot, Tsuno Shrine, formally the ichinomiya of Hyūga Province. The moist cake contains white bean paste and cream, combining the best of Japanese and Western tastes. Other confections that remind people of Tsunocho include Tsuno Station, Tsunayahime, and Kinfugu Monaka. Why use names derived from Tsunocho? The owners say they want recipients to think, “This is from Tsunocho,” or “How nostalgic.” Indeed, someone who left the prefecture and receives one of these sweets after years would likely feel nostalgic. Such treats exist in Tsuno. These days, customers come from within the town, from other towns, and even from other prefectures specifically to buy these sweets. In addition to regular items, Kikuya also makes custom birthday cakes featuring character designs. That, too, is one reason the shop remains beloved. Kikuya’s confections are also sold at the station café inside the tourism association office. They make excellent gifts for loved ones or people who have helped you. Hours 9:00–18:00 Sundays 14:00–17:00 Closed Irregular holidays Parking About 10 spaces Phone 0983-25-0127 Address 〒889-1201 4939 Kawakita, Tsunocho, Koyu District, Miyazaki Prefecture (in front of Akagike Residence)

Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku) Vehicles are prohibited from passing through from 10:00 to 16:00 🚗⚠ Recently, the number of cars entering the post town during the restricted hours has been increasing. This restriction is in place to protect pedestrians and the historic streetscape, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation. Please park in the No.2 parking lot or the central parking lot along National Route 256. The parking fee is 500 yen per day.

Here are some recommended experiences. Tokachi-Honbetsu Town has a large temperature difference between day and night and long hours of sunshine, making it ideal for growing high-quality beans. Why not try your hand at making tofu, an essential healthy food on Japanese tables, in Japan's leading bean-producing town? On this tour, you will join local farmers' wives in making tofu using traditional methods, and then make a salad using okara, the pulp left over from tofu production, ensuring that every part of the soybean is utilised. Tofu is a healthy food that also promotes beautiful skin. Through agricultural experiences, we want people to meet producers they would not normally encounter, learn about the care and intentions behind the ingredients, and taste the flavours of the local cuisine. We also hope these experiences will lead to new discoveries and values, helping people enjoy a healthier and richer diet. If you are interested, please apply at the following URL. Tokachi-Honbetsu is a town where the wide temperature swings and long hours of sunlight allow cultivation of high-quality beans. In Japan’s top bean-producing town, why not try making tofu, a healthy staple of Japanese dining? On this tour, you will work alongside local farmers’ wives to try time-honoured tofu-making methods, then prepare a salad using okara, the pressed soybean pulp left from making tofu, so that every part of the soybean is used without waste. Tofu supports health and also contributes to beautiful skin. These farming experiences let visitors connect with producers they normally could not meet, learn the intentions behind the ingredients, and taste the region’s food. Through the experience, we hope participants discover new insights and values that lead to a healthier, more fulfilling diet. If you are interested, please apply via the URL below. https://slow-life-hokkaido.com/tour/tofu-making-and-bean-rice-cooking-in-honbetsu/...